Tuesday, November 29, 2011

After a few months of game play my players have finally realized their PCs have been chasing a rumor they heard in a tavern months ago that one of them (now dead) bought for a drink.

The City of Gold isn't made of gold, as they were told on first sighting it "A large pueblo cliff-side city spotted glowing in morning sun as if made of gold."

the natives turned back their initial foray, thwarted a scouting mission, summoned a demon to attack the party in camp, the party reequipped for another raid, had a couple PCs scout the area (who encountered a demon and destroyed said demon, a high priest and his acolytes and burnt down the temple) and they realized the city of gold might not actually be a city of gold...

If all those NPCs gained about 90% if their exp from loot about 85,000,000 gp had to be won by the exploits if they are considered to have been bound by the same rules of advancement as PCs.

All that money will not still be sitting in their coffers. I myself make PCs spend the money to get the exp so NPCs will have done the same.

Taxation,rents, duties and such keep 1,920,000 g.p. in circulation. Calcualted at 1 g.p. per commoner and 10gp a year for/from specialists.

For a totally arbitrary reason I decided that's about 20% of all easily transported, easy to spend wealth. So in the whole campaign there would be 10,000,000 g.p. (in total easy wealth) in the coffers of men and those that do business with men.

I'm breaking it down to :1,000,000 g.p. in gems and jewelry2,000,000 g.p.20,000,000 s.p.500,000,000 c.p.

That's a lot of money: 10,440,000 lbs of coin at 50 coins to the pound; 5,220 tons. At least it sounds like it.

-4 if trying to hook an opponent from the front-2 if trying to hook an opponent from a flank-2 if using a weapon not specially designed for hooking a foe.-2 if not using a long weapon.-1 per leg if foe has more 3 or more legs.

Well made armor still allows AC or armor to be applied. Makeshift shields and shoddy or ill-fitting armor aren't included in a targets AC.

If a hook attack is successful: make a damage roll and compare on chart below.

If a hook attack is made against a foe equipped with a shield they may choose to drop the shield instead of suffering a roll on the following table.

Hook Attack Results1-3 Foe shaken, they are -1 to any actions they take for remainder of round. no other damage.4-6 Break Guard, all other attacks agaisnt foe are made at +2 for remainder of round. 1 hp damage is inflicted unless using special capturing weapon.7-9 Pinned, foe is trapped until pin is broken. They lose DEX bonus to AC . Any bonuses from a defense maneuver are lost. 2 points of damage inflicted unless using special capturing weapon.10+ Tripped and knocked down, foe falls to ground knocked prone, all penalties as for 7-9 are applied as well. 3 points of damage inflicted unless using special capturing weapon.

If the attack roll was a critical hit an immediate follow-up attack is allowed to the successful attacker along with any damage allowed as per your campaign critical hit rules.

If a hook attack misses: make a save to keep your weapon in hand. I recommend a DEX check with a bonus applied for fighting ability.If save fails weapon the attacker used is dropped.If this save is botched (miss by more then 5) : the attacker is off guard, any foes may attack at +2 for remainder of round.If the save is fumbled (a 1, or a 2 if miss is more then 5): attacker is sent sprawling, they drop weapon and are knocked prone.

Two weapons designed for this maneuver

Crook: A pole designed to catch and hold troublesome animals, it also works well on people.Damage: 1d4 lethal (or 1d10 when hooking a foe). The weapon is long and requires two hands to use in combat. Cost: 8 s.p.

Spiked Catch-pole: an elaborate polearm with a pseudo-mandible designed to catch troublesome folk.Damage: 1d4+1 lethal (or 1d12 when hooking a foe). The weapon is long and requires two hands to use in combat. If a foe is pinned or knocked prone the attacker may automatically hit the foe each round for lethal or nonlethal damage. Cost: 30 g.p.

Note on polearms: many but not all polearms are equipped with spikes and hooks that may assist this manuever. If a DM wants to be a stinker or no one is sure if a polearm has an appropriate extension for this maneuver one may be so equipped at a 20% increase to the normal cost of a weapon.

Monday, November 28, 2011

"Coping with a horde of orcs or other stock monsters is mainly a mechanical exercise. World of Warcraft or other computer-based games portray that far better than some guy at the head of a table with some funny looking dice." - semiprometheus on a blog comment here: http://lotfp.blogspot.com/2011/11/isle-of-unknown-what-is-it.html

Wow, I couldn't agree less. Really how is it simply a mechanical exercise? That's only possible if we reduce the orc to a very limited set of options and behaviors. I'm big a fan of random tables as assistance and idea generators but I don't consider their use to be mechanical and divorced from creativity. Why have a "stock monster" that is differentiated from other monsters at all if it isn't something beyond mechanical? If you can't make a horde of orcs interesting and notable part of play, give up DMing.

A horde of orcs isn't a crowd of clones all acting in concert with a little fuzzy math thrown in to generate a few fringe exceptions. A random encounter with 50 orcs has lots of room for creativity and non-mechanical roleplaying opportunity. Who are their leaders? What are their motives? Where is their base? Do they have any prisoners? How much treasure do they have? How will taking that treasure lead to further adventures? Is this horde of orcs known for accepting hero combat? Are these orcs frightened of magic more than normal? Are these really gross orcs or faceless mooks of the dark lord? Do some stop to collect loot and flee before a fight is over? What tactics are they attempting? Do the orcs really give a darn that they've just encountered the PCs?

If the orc reactions time and again are .."ooghh, soft hoomans , dorfs and alfs....lets git-em boyz...charge !!!!", someone is in a rut and has forgotten they are playing a fantasy game.

Players treating orcs the same, time and time again and getting away with it? Well this is another example of the DM dropping the ball. Intelligent foes should react to threats and every orc is eventually going to hear about the orc-killing party and either plot their ruin or avoid them at all costs. The players like oil-bombign raids, the orcs might think turn about is fair play. A pesky wizard putting mobs of orcs to sleep? Fill the wizard with arrows before a fight starts. Pepper the woods/hills/dungeon around their lair with small annoying traps and points of ambush that wear on the nerves of the PCs and NPCs along for the pillage but don't have a large combat until the orcs have a clear advantage. Have the orcs atempt to bribe the PCs..."well sure, here take this 100 gp and by the way I know the back way into Lord Darks Tower of Terrible Peril" (hmmm...could this be an ambush, not if the DM is clever). Don't let the layers get away with the same unthinking tactics time and time again and avoid this by actign like the monsters don't simply want to win but want to survive.

A train of orcs shouldn't all march into a choke point and allow themselves to be riddled with arrows and magic until they are decimated. The mob shouldn't slowly advance until reinforcements stumble onto an exposed flank. Even nasty disgusting son's of evil aren't always looking for a fight.

A horde of 50 intelligent creatures is a horde with 50 different priorities and should be gamed as such.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

We've recently purchased a new home (last week really). Well, not so new at all really the home was built in the 1880's; It's got some renovations to do before we move in (one contractor already did some work on Thanksgiving morning). It's on a large hilltop plot bordering the headwaters of a small river. We've got ruins on the property as the builder of the property (an inventor with several patents) ran a mill for a number of years. The house itself has undergone updating over the years and my wife is simply in love the luxurious details, tin walls and tin ceilings. It's a grand old place (not huge really but more then 4 times the size of our current tiny home).Of greatest interest to readers of this blog is this home shall be the future site of Gamehalla (my game room), when we can finish insulating and prettying up the attached barn. /there shall be a large game table, shelves, storage cabinets, work bench(es) and desk area for a generation of gaming. Many adventurers will enter, their deeds shall be recorded and few will leave.

I spent a large chunk of yesterday with my brother-in-law and father ripping up the rotten flooring and decrepit floor joists in the cottage/shed (not in picture). The floor need "a little work" and as said work began the true extent of the required work revealed itself under three or four era's of floor repair; the joys of home ownership.

Friday, November 25, 2011

This is my favorite old-school initiative system that can be applied to virtually any set of D&D-like RPG combat systems.

Each side rolls a die, the highest side goes first.

What makes this different from simple group initiative is who gets to roll each round.

A player is selected to roll for each round. Any modifiers for the system used are applied to the roll. This player goes first this round each player to the left on the winning side acts as they will.Sure this creates some odd effects now and again but it's no burden.

Next round the player sitting to the left of that player rolls unless the character is completely uninvolved in the fight.

Typically the first player to roll in each combat is the point man or player at the fore-front of the marching order or the players can choose to keep trading rolls unless the DM upsets the order for some reason.

The DM is free to choose who rolls first among the players in unusual situations.

The DM may roll once for all foes or break foes into a couple squads based on position,leadership, and mobility. Thus it's possible for some monsters to attack the PCs before and after they all take their turn in a given round.

Fighting goes quickly, everyone get to roll eventually and there is a little room for planning and forethought (placing quick agile fighters in front).

Friday, November 18, 2011

"What it is quite simply, is the modern reincarnation of the oldest narrative known to world literature: the heroic fantasy. The adventure story of the indomitable warrior-hero battling supernatural evil, personified as monster or magician, god or ghost or goblin, dragon or demon. The sort of thing the Greek myths and Norse legends are all about, and Beowulf and the Shah Namah and the Mabinogoin. The kind of yarn they wrote about in the Middle Ages, in sagas and epics about Roland and oliver, or hero tales and legends about St. George and the Dragon ...", Lin Carter , Flashing Swords! #4 published in 1977 by Dell Publishing Co., Inc

I just pulled this book off of my shelves and started rereading it again and had to share some of the introduction .

The book itself is an excellent primer of swords and sorcery as it was in the 70's with The Bagful of Dreams by Jack Vance, The Tupliak by Poul Anderson, Storm in a Bottle by John Jakes, Swords Against the Marluk by Katherine Kurtz and The Lands Beyond The World by Michael Moorcock.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

To go along with recent posts here's a Dungeon Stocking Table that incorporates the features from said recent posts.

This table is designed for a fantasy dungeon of no defined original purpose where 25% of rooms could be empty. The dungeon features from earlier posts have a 25% chance of being present in a room, chamber or run of corridor, this could create a dangerous and difficult to navigate dungeon but even in a dungeon level with 100 rooms there is a lot of room for variety.

Stairs are an ever-present feature of dungeons connecting levels and sub levels. Stairs can also add variety to elevation within a level or even separate sections of a room or tunnel.

Stairs (roll 1d100)1-15 Stones stairs: a flight of stone stairs not much special there, it's location may provide a little mystery.

16 Endless Stairs: magically trap anyone on endless staircase once they enter. There is typically a pass phrase a user may speak softly to avoid this fate.

17-18 Sliding Stair: stairs are trapped and will send victims plummeting down. 1d6 per 30' for anyone who fails a save.

19-20 Teleporting Stairs: any who travel are teleported elsewhere

21-25 Colossal Stairs: the stairs are far to large for man-sized adventurers to climbs normally.

26-35 Steep stairs: these stairs are dangerous to man-sized or larger climber who may fall if they travel down too fast or are engaged in difficulty (such as combat) on the stairs.

36-45 Uneven Stairs: this stairs on this staircase are uneven and this may send folk for a tumble who are unfamiliar with the stairs and attempt to travel too swiftly.

46-55 Slippery Stairs: these stairs are slippery and anyone traveling up or down has a 1 in 20 chance of stumbling.56-60 Narrow: this staircase is very narrow, only one man-sized person may pass at a time and any combat on the stairs will be very difficult.

61-70 Wooden Stair: there is an old wooden stair in place that creaks as it is climbed.

71-75 Trapdoor: halfway along the staircase there is a trapdoor built into the stair (or possibly on a landing). Check trapdoor table.

76-80 Rotten Stair: this really old wooden stair creaks and groans indoor weight and some steps bow under pressure, there is a 1 in 6 chance per climber that a stair breaks sending an unable or unawares person for a fall. If weight limit is reached a stair will break on 1-5 in 6. Weight limit 100-600 lbs.

81-82 Handholds: there are hand-holds carved into the wall offerign a clearly defined climb, this is not a true staircase.

83-84 Shelf Fungus Ladder: fungus grows from the wall in an arrangement that allows one to climb the fungus as if a ladder. Too much weight will rip some free and send the hapless climber for a fall. 30-300 lbs suggested weight limit. There is a 10% chance the fungus has special fungus properties as per fungus table.

85 Shelf Fungus Stair: fungus grows from the wall in an arrangement that allows one to climb the fungus as if a staircase. Too much weight will rip some free and send the hapless climber for a fall. 100-600 lbs suggested weight limit per "step". There is a 15% chance the fungus has special fungus properties as per fungus table.

86-90 Intact Ladder: instead of a staircase one finds an intact ladder mounted to allow one to climb.

91-95 Rickety ladder: an old, ill-maintained ladder is mounted to allow a climb. A rung will break 4 in 6 if the weight limit is exceeded. Weight limit 50-300 lbs.

96 Empty Shaft: there may be holes in the wall where a ladder or wooden stair was once mounted into the wall but now there is no easy means to scale the now empty shaft.

97 Well Secured Rope: a rope hangs down a shaft from a well secured mount.

98 Poorly Secured Rope: a poorly secured rope that will slip free on a 1 in 6 per climber making the climb is hanging down a shaft.

99 Tangle of Roots: a shaft filled with roots allows folks to go for a climb. Weight limit 30-600 lbs. There is a 15% chance the roots have a feature as describes in the roots table.

100 Webbing: amazingly strong and durable webbing allows one to make a climb. A save may be required to avoid begin caught in place during the climb.

40-49 Large Mushrooms in a patch, these fungus grow up to 6 feet high and the caps are up to 4' in diameter in an area 5-20 feet across. Small creatures may pass enter a pacth without disturbing them 90% of the time, man-sized folk 1-4 in 6 (if moving 1/2 speed or slower).

50-58 Large Mushrooms covering floor,as above, but 30-300 foot area.

59-65 Large Mushrooms growing from wall, as above but 30-180 foot area.

66-70 Giant Mushroom, one single giant mushroom grows here. It will almost reach the ceiling of it' slocation and the cap will be 5-20 feet in diameter.

71-76 Giant Mushrooms in a patch, 3-18 giant mushrooms each 5-20 in diameter in close proximity to each other. The patch can be safely entered by small folks, medium sized character can do so without disturbing the fungus on 1-4 in 6. Large creatures may do so only 1-2 in 6.

77-79 Giant Mushrooms growing from wall, 30-300 of wall sprout giant fungus. The fungus grow out up 5-30 feet. Small folks may move in this space safely with a chance of 1-5 in 6. Man-sized folk are safe 1-3 in 6, large folk may only do so on 1in 6. Per 30 span.

80-81 Giant Mushrooms filling room/tunnel. Very dense growth of giant fungus, small folk may pass through without disturbing fungus at 1-3 in 6 if moving 1/2 speed or less, man-sized for moving 1/3 speed or slower will not disturb fungus 1-2 in 6 of the time, large creatures may n0t travel through this space at all without disturbing or clearing fungus.

82-84 Cave Coral in a patch 5-20, this crusty fungus is as hard and may sometimes support the weight of a man-sized or large creature (1-4 in d6).

85-86 Cave Coral covering floor, in a patch 50-300 feet across, this crusty fungus is as hard and may sometimes support the weight of a man-sized or large creature (1-4 in d6).

100 Riot of Fungus filling room/passage, area completely overgrown with fungus, tiny beings may be able to move through freely all other will find it impossible to move faster than 1/1oth normal speed without disturbing fungus.

21-25 Mushroom Trap: much like a venus-fly trap . The tiny one are harmless. Large one or 2HD and may reach up to 5feet to bite. Giant ones are 5HD and may reach up to 3/4 their height to bite prey. Large ones may capture small prey, giant ones may capture man-sized prey.

26-30 Groovie Shrooms: if eaten these will cause intoxicating hallucinations for 3-18 turns.

31-33 Wizard's Shrooms: if eaten a by a magic0user they gain an extra casting of the spell detect-magic to use when they wish. If more extra castings are gained then the MU has levels they must save or be driven mad.

34-40 Deathcaps: these mushrooms are lethal poison if consumed. If gathered the poison will be useless in after one hour.

41-55 Chicken Shrooms: these nutritious fungus taste just like chicken.

61-65 Stinging Shrooms: this fungus shoots out spikes attacking as 4HD monster, victim must save or be 1: poisoned to death, 2-3: be confused, 4-5: fall asleep, 6: be consumed by mold as if attacked by green-slime.

66-70 Flash Shrooms:if disturbed they will flash with light bright enough to blind those within 30 feet for 1-6 full turns.

71-75 Black Spores: if disturbed this fungus emits black spores up to 20'. All who contacted the black spores will grow mold and be consumed as if by green slime.

76-80 Sickly White Fungus: if disturbed this fungus grows amazingly fast, filling the area and up to 20' away. Those who don't get away are trapped and will suffocate.

86-92 Gnome Bane: this fungus emits spores that will entice gnomes up to 200' away to seek out the mushroom and eat it for 2-12 turns until their bellies are swollen. The gnomes are then relieved of the compulsion. 2-5 hours later the gnomes bellies will in fact explode killing the gnome while a fresh fungus patch begins to grow where the gnome falls.

93-95 Brain Eating: this fungus has an enzyme-like spore that infests anyone who touched the fungus and fails a save. They will lose 1 point of intelligence a day until cured or death at 0 intelligence. When they die they will sprout fungus.

96-98 Mastermind Mushrooms: these mushrooms will make mental attacks against foes within 20', those that don't save are controlled by the Mastermind Mushrooms as if by a Charm Person spell.

99-100 Infestor: These mushrooms taste just like chicken but if eaten the victim will lose 1d6 points of CHA each day until taken over by the fungus when 0 CHA is reached. The infested victim will act as a normal member of it's type and class but is now a fungus, PCs will be an NPC controlled by referee.

56-60 Trapped: the altar is trapped (determine traps as normal for dungeon)

61-65 Miracles: if supplicant is spell-caster will regain a 1st or 2nd level spell up to 3 times over the next day.

66-75 Protective: no evil may approach within 60' of altar or commit violence into this space unless attacked from inside the space protected.

76-80 Conversion: any supplicant will be converted to alignment of the altar. A cleric of same alignment can convert one unwilling convert a week who fails a saving throw.

81-95 False Idol: the altar engravings or statuary act as a statue generated on the statue table.

96-100 Altar of Trials: A supplicant to this altar will be cursed. Once they return with three sacrifices or offerings to this altar the curse is removed and there is a 20% chance a random attribute is permanently raised by one point and the supplicant alignment is changed to that of the altar. Attempting to gain another ability point will be (roll 1d6): 1-2 ignored, 3-4 result in permanent curse and no ability point gains, 5-6 result in permanent curse and ability point gained (if this curse is somehow removed ability point is lost)

Mirror Mirror on the wall, what's this mirror doing down here in the the dungeon?

All mirrors on this table are meant to be large free standing mirror or wall mounted mirrors, reflecting pools may also be used.Mirrors removed from where they are found only have a 33% chance or retaining their abilities.

Mirror (roll 1d100)1-10 Extra Room: another room beyond mirror, this room will appear opposite to the one the mirror is within. there could be different occupants and treasure within.

11-20 Mirror-men: mirror will generate simulacra of those who peer into it. On death of such a simulacra all equipment carried will shatter and crumble away to dust. If the simulacra are immediately hostile, mischievous impersonators or willing companions is all up to the ref and possibly a reaction roll.

21-30 Trapping: those looking into mirror will become trapped within on a failled save. Dispel magic or remove curse will might "open" the mirror allowing those inside to escape. Breking the mirror has a 50% chance of freeing prisoners or killign them (and losign their bodies and equipment).

31-45 Peering: functions as crystal ball up to three times a day to anyone who recites the proper command phrase.

46-50 Doppler: an item (living beings aren't items) left in front of the mirror for 1-3 turns will be duplicated and can be pulled from the mirror. Only works 1-3 times a day. Magical items will not be recreated with their magical properties and gems and jewelry have a 50% chance of being valueless glass and shinny pot-metal.

51-55 Thieving: looks like Doppler mirror, items left in front of it will disappear (living beings aren't items).

56-65 Images: The mirror will hold images and acts as per a mural on the mural table.

66-80 Mocking: this mirror will reflect embarassing images of those peering into the mirror. A save is required or the victim suffers a 2 point loss of charisma for a week.

81-95 Ego Mirror: peering into this mirror for 1-6 rounds will cause one's image to be reflected back in a more handsome and complementary manner. No save is allowed and the viewer gains one point of CHA and Loses one poitn of WIS per viewing up to 3 times a week. The effect lasts for a week.

96-100 Medusa Mirror: If one peers into this mirror there is a 33% chance a Medusa face appears in the mirror forcing ceiling the viewer to make a save or me turned to stone.

Some roots descend deep into the depths of the earth and can be found intruding on dungeon domains.

Roots may be found (roll 1d100)1-10 Hanging threshold. The roots form natural curtain, an agile being may avoid. 10-20feet.

11-40 Dangling from ceiling. Short explorers can avoid these roots but taller folk must stoop or crawl to avoid them. 20-50 feet.

41-60Tangled on the floor. The roots slow travel to half normal unless one wishes to risk falling. Save or fall if moving over 1/2 speed. 20-120 feet.

61-80 Running along and through a wall. the roots are easily avoided if one keeps away from populated wall. 30-300 feet.

81-100 Choking a passage or chamber. the passage is virtually full of roots. Tiny folks may be able to move through at 1/3 speed others may squirm through at 1/10th speed or remove the roots. 30 to 180 feet.

Toughness of Roots (roll 1d100)1-20 Feeble, may be struck as unarmored. Vines will be cut on any strike of 2hp or more.21-75 Wirey, may be struck as if leather. Vines will be cut on any strike of 3hp or more.76-90 Strong, may be struck as if chainmail. Vines will be cut on any strike of 4 hp or more.91-100 Iron, may be struck as if plate armor. Vines will be cut on any strike of 6 hp or more

Roots (roll 1d100)1-15 Pale Creepers: these pale unexciting roots don't do much at all but explorers will not always know that.

16-20 Blood Saps: these roots will attack at a monster of their dungeon level and will drain 1d6 each round until the victim is drained of all blood.

21-25 Thorny: these roots are covered in thorns, anyone moving quickly through them may be slightly harmed if they are unlucky. Make a 1HD attack for 1-3 damage if feeling cruel.

26-30 Constricting Creepers: these roots will react to contact by animating and attempting to strangle or crush victims. Attack as monster of dungeon level and the round after a successful hit they will inflict 1d6 damage per 3 dungeon levels automatically.

31-35 Thorny Tentacles: These roots will attack intruders and are able to reach up to 10' away. They atatck as monster of their dungeon level inflicting 1d6 damage per 2 dungeon levels.

36-40 Tangle Roots: these roots will animate and grab passers-by but cause no damage. treat as a web spell to escape.

46-55 Tap Roots: these roots are liquid filled and each 10' section can be tapped into to gather a gallon of water if one waits 2 turns. They will run dry for a day afterward.

56-57 Alchemy Roots: these roots are filled with liquid filled and each 10' section can be tapped into to gather a dose of potion if one waits 2 turns. They will be dry for a month afterward.

58-60 Toxic Tap Roots: these roots are filled with liquid that will poison one who sips the liquid from within. If tapped one does of poison can be collected per 10 foot section if one waits 2 turns. They will run dry for a week afterward.

64-65 Pump Roots: these roots if cut will start to flood the area they occupy and form a pool in 2d6 rounds. See Pool Table.

66-70 Whisper Roots: If cut these roots allow one to hear what is spoken near other cut sections of whisper roots. The cuts will seal within 3 days.

71-80 Red Roots: these roots are harmless 50% of the time otherwise they will strike for no damage but will rust a random piece of exposed metal equipment.

81-95 Tater Roots: these roots are nourishing a 10' section will provide 1-3 days rations if harvested. It will take a full turn of work to harvest one day of food.

96-100 Black Gusher: if cut this root will spray forth oil that will ignite as a thrown flask of burning oil if there are flames within 10' of the cut. A 10' section can be taped in but 3 rounds to supply a flask of oil and may be tapped again in an hour.

Identifying roots.Any character can identify roots by interaction and experimentation. Dwarves, Gnomes and Druids mat note the type of root and it's properties by passing within 20'. A cursory inspection takes 2 rounds and one must be within 10'. Taking a cutting takes but 3 rounds a failed roll will result in harm to examiner if possible.Type...........passing by......cursory inspection.....cuttingDwarf.........20%................30%............................40%Gnome.......33%................44%.............................66%Druid.........15%.................30%............................45%

Other types may be adept at identify roots and nearby goblins, molemen and morlocks may know of the properties of roots near their abodes.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

The following is a set of features for the more obvious of trapdoors set in ceiling and floors.

Trapdoors are not always easy to open.

Trapdoor Opening Table (roll 1d100)1-20 Locked: must unlock trapdoor to open.21-30 Sealed: the trapdoor is sealed shut with spikes and or boards. It will take 2-12 rounds to force open.31-35 Wizard Locked: the trapdoor is magically sealed.36-70 Stuck: the trapdoor is stuck and requires effort to open. Use standard rules for opening doors.71-80 Heavy: the trapdoor is particularly heavy and requires a combined STR of 15+ 3d10 to open.81-100 Free: the trapdoor will open freely.

Trapdoors will be trapped beyond the features listed here 15% of the time.

Trapdoors (roll 1d100)1-10 Pitfall: Surprise surprise the Trapdoor is over a pitfall, adventurers tampering with it will fall in on a roll of 1-2 in 6. (re-roll if this trapdoor is in the ceiling)

11-25 Pest Hole: a nest of monsters dwells in a small chamber beyond the trapdoor.

26-60 Threshold: the trapdoor leads to a room/chamber of the same size as the current one (or 30feet by 30 feet if found in a corridor), this room is otherwise as ordinary as other rooms in the dungeon.

61-70 Gateway: This trapdoor connects to another level (or sub level)

71-85 Treasure Cache: a nook beyond the trapdoor contains a treasure. Treasure may be trapped.

86-90 Misty Barrier: opening this trapdoor causes a mist to billow forth. (see Mist table). Examining the trapdoor carefully could reveal a small amount of the mist (1 chance in 6), that will not harm or benefit anyone but serve to forewarn dungeoneers.

21-30 Gem Eyes: this very popular statue has gems for eyes (determine value of gems as per campaign). There is a 25% chance the statue has a second characteristic and a 20% chance whoever carries the gems is cursed.

Massive cauldrons can be found scattered about the dark depths of the world and in a host of mysterious places.

1-15 Empty Cauldron: A normal empty cauldron, nothing special here.

16-20 Porridge Pot: This cauldron will produce 3d6+24 servings of porridge once an hour. Porridge will disappear if carried more than 100feet from cauldron.

21-30 Ever-needed Pot: This cauldron will produce 3d6+24 servings of porridge once an hour. Anyone who eats two or more servings of this porridge must make a saving throw or they will be magically cursed to keep eating from the cauldron. shoudl they attempt to move more then 100' away from the cauldron they will start to waste away suffering 1d3 hp a round.

31-40 Cauldron of Skulls: Remains placed in this cauldron will be reanimated as per animate dead. Up to 12 HD of creatures may be so created in a day. Roll to see what the animated dead do:1- wander away, 2- attack the chef, 3-6 serve chef until destroyed.

41-50 Black Water: when filled with 10 gallons or more of water this large balck caldron will heat the contents which will 75% act as a fountain generated as per the fountain table.

51-60 Cold Brass Cauldron: if a fire is lit under this cauldron it will emit a mist as per the mist table.

61-70 Pitted Cauldron: within this pitted and rusted cauldron one will find rotten fare and fungus.

71-80 Silver Cauldron: this large silver cauldron will purify foul water and rotten food placed within up to three times a day.

81-100 Cauldron of Boiling and Toil: This cauldron acts as a crystal ball if stirred for 3 or more rounds.

34-35 Kraken Pool: careful observation will reveal a kraken asleep in the bottom of the pool. It may attack if disturbed.

36-40 Money Changer: This pool will convert coins dipped into it's waters into coins of more valuable metal 80% of the time, 20% of the time coins will be turned to lead. Coins will dissolve if dipped in a second time.

41-42 Lady of the Lake: a spirit dwelling within the lake will cast a geas upon anyone disturbing it's waters. Anyone who completes the quest will be richly rewarded.

73-75 Acid Pool: That's not water! Anything dipped or splashed by the water of this pool suffers 1d6 damage for 1-3 rounds, full immersion causes 6d6 a round. No normal container may safely carry the acid from this pool.

76-85 Piranha Pool: this pool is infested with cunningly hidden carnivorous fish (only seen on a 1 in 6). They will attack as a 4HD monster and inflict 1d12 points of damage.

86-90 Freezing Pool: pool magicall freezes in 1d3 rounds trapping all within. There is a 80% chance this pool has another feature as rolled on this table.

91-95 Geyser: disturbing this water activates a steaming geyser that will scald all within 30' who fail a save for 3d6 damage.

96-100 Frozen Pool: the pool is frozen over, the ice may break if one falls on the ice or tries to break it open. There is a 50% chance the pool has another property determined on this table.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Fountains may bubble forth freely or may have run dry until they are set to flow again by curious adventurers.

Fountain Table (roll 1d100)1-30- Poison: anyone sampling this fountain must save or suffer 6d6 damage from poison. Posion removed from this will lose potency in a minute.

31-45- Grog: this fountain bubbles forth potent alcohol, anyone drinking of it (even but a sip) must save or be rendered drunk and suffer a -2 to hit and save penalty for the next 1d6 hours along with other associated hazards of drunkenness. The grog will typically lose potency if carried more then 50 feet from the fountain.

46-55- Potion: whoever tests the potion will receives the benefits or harm from a randomly determined potion. One more dose may be taken from the potion, attempting to carry away more will cause the fountain to run dry for the next 2-7 days.

56-60- Boiling: The waters of this fountain will suddenly boil is disturbed causing 1d4 dmage to anyone in contact, 6d6if fully immersed. Boiling water removed from the fountain will cool normally.

61-62- Rusty Water: anyone poking at this water must save or all metals carried will magically rust, any metal dropped in fountain waters will rust away in 1d3 rounds. The water has no power if removed from the fountain.

63-64- Mist: if tampered with the fountain will spew a randomly determined mist (see Mist post)

65- Midas Water: the adventurer sampling this water must make a save or they and all their equipment will turn to gold as if turned to stone. The fountain will be potable water for next 2-12 hours. Water removed from this fountain will be harmless an potable.

66-70- Attached Pool: the fountain either has an attached pool or has overflowed onto the floor. (see Pool post: to come)

71-72- Fountain of Weal: the first drink from this fountain will raise an ability by one point for a week. If other drink from the fountain the same ability point will be raised for a day. Multiple drinks will have no effect and water carried away will be but normal water once carried 50 feet away.

73-74- Fountain of Woe: the first drink from this fountain will lower an ability point by one point for a week, successive drinks will lower an additional point and extend the duration for an addtional week. Water carried away will be but normal water once carried 50 feet away.

75-77- Slime Spewing: The fountain sprays forth green-slime or other such deadly creature.

78-100- Potable Fountain: the water will be pure and normal regardless of surrounding environment.

The following is an array of magical and perplexing mists,fogs,cloud,smoke and vapors with which to dress up your fantasy campaigns.

Mist Traps and Sudden Mists fill a 10'-40' radius typically but slowly rolling mists expanding into an area even if relatively harmless add a degree of drama. Most mists are dense enough to limit vision to 20' or less within their boundaries, missile fire through an area obscured by mist should provide significant penalty to attackers success.

Mists Table (1d100)1-2- Lycanthrope Fog: swirling foggy mist, heavier near the ground. Occupants that fail a save vs breath weapons will be transformed into lycanthropes (of type determined by ref)for as long as they stay within the mist and 80% of the time for up to 7-12 turns after leaving the mist, 20% of the time victims will instead be infected with normal lycanthropy afterward.

3-5- Healing Mist: Anyone exposed to this mist will recover 2-7 hp of damage of wounded at the time of exposure. This mist will only benefit a being once per day.

6- Midas Mist: anyone in mist must pass a save every 2 rounds or their person and all equipment carried is turned into gold (living beings will be immobile as when turned to stone). Equipment thrown into the mist doesn't turn into gold if it isn't carried by living being.

7-10- Purple Haze: Anyone exposed to this mist that fails a save will hallucinate and on a second failed save they will turn to stone.

11-20- Acid Vapor: The mists is a a cloud of acid...arg!!! The mist will do 1d6 damage per dungeon level, successful save will halve the damage.

21-25- Tear Gas: This mist overcomes victims who will cough and be overcome with tears for 1-4 rounds after exposure.

26-30- Choking Cloud: A failed save overcomes a victim who suffers 1d3 damage a round in the mist. A save is allowed each round. If three saves in a row fail the victim will be overcome and helpless within the mist and will take damage each round with no save.

31-35- Feeble Vapor: this mist will cause the victim to have their strength reduced to 1/2 normal. Monsters without scores will attack at 1/2 HD and inflict 1/2 damage. Those suffering from the feeble vapor will continue to suffer for 7-12 full turns.

36-40- Rusting Fumes: metals will magically rust on second and following rounds of exposure.

41-60- Dense Fog: vision is reduced to but 10' within the mist even to those with special forms of vision.

61-70-Fog Beast: as dense fog above plus a monster will occupy the mist that may not be harmed by attacks launched from outside the fog.

71-75- Soporific Cloud: anyone failing a save in this cloud will fall asleep for 7-12 hours. Normal means will not wake them.

76-80- Luminous Green Mist: anyone passing through the cloud will glow with a green light for 3 full turns afterward.

81-90- Explosive Fumes: This mist will smell slightly of rotten eggs, any open flames will cause the cloud to explode inflicting 2d6 damage of fiery carnage per dungeon level to all within (dissipating the gas for a hour if a constant hazard).

91-95- Spooky Mist: this oddly clinging and swirling mist is harmless but any undead within may not be turned.

96-97- Phantom Fog: this swirling and shifting cloud of fog will sport the occasional fearsome face and spectral form. Those of 3rd level or less must make a morale save to enter or operate effectively inside a mist. Undead within may not be turned.

98- Ghastly Vapors: These vapors appear to be a spooky mist or phantom fog but anyone lingering in this mist for more then a round must save vs death or lose an energy level. Anyone who dies in these vapors will be lost as will all gear they carried.Undead within may not be turned and will recover 2 hp a round if harmed.

99-100- Fog of War: all within who fail a save will strike violently at anyone within reach. Those leaving the mist will attack the nearest beiung for 1d4 rounds.

A ref is encouraged to come up with a variety of smells and colors to aid and confuse players attempting to identify a mist without entering it.

Okay I have to admit it, I was fibbing last post. The mechanics i listed may in fact work for a very loose abstract representation of every contest in a game universe by making extremely likely events extremely likely and extremely unlikely events extremely unlikely. But do we really want that in RPG land?

What do we want mechanics to solve? Do we really need a mechanic to tell us a 10 tons weight dropped on James Bond's head will kill him? Do we ever need to compare Aunt May and Galactus in a head to head bout? How about an apatosaur stomping on Kongor the Dinosaur hunter?

If we decide for or agaisnt those extreme cases being solved by a game mechanic over GM judgment how much granularity between cases matters? Is it worth having a difference between A Zwiehander and a Dagger? Are butcher knives and stilettos all that different from each other?

What do we want? Plausible mechanics to resolve human scale conflicts? Plausible mouse vs mammoth resolution systems? Do we really need one mechanic to rule them all?

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

the following is an infinitely scaling game mechanic designed for task resolution in a host of RPG situations.

Compare two values. One is defined as the active value the other is the target value.

If the applied value is equal to the target value roll 12+ on 3d6 to score a success.

if the applied value is less then the target value , but equal to or greater then 1/2 the target value, roll 15+ on 3d6 to score a success.

if the applied value is less then 1/2 the target value roll 17+ on 3d6 to score a success.

if the applied value is greater then the target value a roll of 9+ on 3d6 to score a success.

if the applied value is twice or better then the target value roll 5+ on 3d6 for success

Situational bonuses are applied to the active score not the die roll.

Ex: Falon (attack factor 12) is attacking an Ice Drake (defense factor 27) normally Falon would need to roll 17+ on 3d6 to score a hit on the ice drake, but Falon has snuck up on the dragon gaining a 4 point bonus giving him a score of 16 vs 27 so Falon can strike the dragon on a score of 15+ on 3d6.

So there you go a universal mechanic that never craps out. It's not exciting but one can use it to resolve tasks where scores are 1 vs 1, 10 vs 50 or 3 vs 100,000.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The party has recently aborted their assault on the city of gold and after a return to the main camp they set off to check out the ruins that have been identified to them as The City of Ghosts or The Haunted Ruins depending on whom they asked.

They journeyed a short distance along the river from the main camp and set inland wisely camping well outside the ruins until the next morning.

The Party entering the Haunted Ruins and searched among the standing walls of many building of unbeknown purpose until they found a hole in a plaza with a rotted old ladder barely still standing in place going into the darkness. The dwarf Thorgrim was lowered into the hole after some light was dropped in an he noted 30 niches in a large circular chamber under the hole (a kiva), within each niche was a bundle of cloth and there was clearly a passage beyond one of the bundles through a niche. The entire party climbed down into the niche as Thorgrom insopected the bundle in the passage.

To Thorgrim discovered the remains to be a inanimate mummy of some sort bundled in a fetal position and when he fussed with it it toppled over spilling forth a host of little yellow scorpions.Dealing with the scorpions caused some of the party to be surprised by a host of wraiths (30 in all) identified as shadows that did rise from the remains in each niche. Those that weren't surprised fled for the rope dangling down from the surface. The wraiths piled on those they surprised quickly overwhelming the bulk of the parties retainers and a low level mage. Thorgrim was trapped by the wraiths.

Now safely above and witnessing the carnage under him the Warlock Tasmetus fired a fireball into the kiva from his wand and killed a couple of the remaining retainers while Thorgrim endured the blast which had only limited impact on the host of wraiths. Up on the surface the parties rogue noted he could hear wailing and moaning coming from the ruins beyond their current position. With great haste an an insane amount of luck a fresh rope was dropped back into the Kiva and Throgrim escaped alive and with his levels and the party ran from the ruins.

Through all this the players assailed me with "30 ?!!!", I couldn't help but reply with the title of this post.

That ill fated expedition claimed the lives of 3 men at arms, 3 gentleman allies, 1 2nd level magic-user, along with Old Hook-eye, Rabid Dog and Fork Tongue (3 hillman savages that have been with the party for many months). It was a big blow to overall party morale.

The party returned to the main camp and spent a few days resting while they planned their return to the City of Gold and to avoid the haunted ruins. To some it's now a do or die mission as they are in desperate need of a telling victory and financial gain or their reputations will be put in so much jeopardy they may have trouble building future expeditions.

About Me

A RPG player who thinks he has something to share. Discovered wargaming at the age of 9 or so thanks to Avalon Hill. Started playing D&D in the later days of the 70's as one of those annoying kids and currently games with spouse, family and friends.